Imagine (1) 3b2vh

Imagine – John Lennon (9th Oct 1940 – 8th Dec 1980) – Notes





Activity types: Vocabulary, listening for specific words, gap fill, text analysis, discussion



Level: Intermediate/Post-Intermediate



Grammar Focus: Word Formation; Second Conditional

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Notes: Imagine is the title song of John Lennon’s 1971 second solo album. The song became an anthem for anti-war movements, and is considered one of the greatest songs ever written. In the book Lennon in America, by Geoffrey Giuliano, Lennon commented that Imagine was “anti-

religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic, but because it's sugarcoated, it's accepted.”

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1. Give each student a folded copy of the worksheet and ask them to work on Activity 1, individually or in pairs/groups. They have to try to form new words according to the instructions. Do not correct at this stage. In a weak class or at a lower level you can use this as a dictionary training activity. KEY:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

BROTHERHOOD DREAMER EASILY GREEDY HARD HEAVENLY HELLISH HUNGRY

9. IMAGINATION 10.KILLER 11.MANHOOD 12.NEEDY 13.PEACEFUL 14.POSSESSION 15.RELIGIOUS 16.WONDERFUL

2. Play the song. Ask students to listen for the words from the previous activity and tick them as they hear them. The words can be in any form (e.g. singular/plural, etc.). KEY: See complete version of the song 3. , then students unfold the page and fill in the gaps with the missing words, based on their answers to the previous activity and context. 4. Play the song again. Students check their answers in pairs or in groups, then correct in open class and sing together!

GRAMMAR FOCUS: Word Formation. Students elicit how they can form words in English by adding suffixes (-y, -ly, -er, -ful, -hood, etc.). Sometimes spelling changes can occur (easyeasily; hunger-hungry). Some words may not change (wonder can be a noun or a verb, hard can be an adjective or an adverb). TEXT ANALYSIS: What kind of world did John Lennon imagine? Read the lyrics and discuss his views on religion, war, property and poverty. Make examples. What is the effect of repeated words throughout the song such as no, nothing and not? SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION: Students can compare the world imagined by John Lennon and the world they live in. You can also encourage students to use the second conditional by asking questions such as: “If John Lennon was alive today, what would he think of 9/11 in U.S.A.? Would he campaign against racism and any form of discrimination? Would he campaign for the environment? Would he the present world leaders? Would he be a politician himself? Would he own any properties? Would he be pro European Union?”

This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only Activity © Tune into English 2010 – www.tuneintoenglish.com

Worksheet written by Prof. Mena Bianco, Naples



Imagine – John Lennon



Activity 1. Word formation: Write the words, then listen to the song and check. 1. BROTHER (noun) – (abstract noun) __________botherhood_________________________ 2. DREAM (noun/verb) – (concrete noun) _________________________________________ 3. EASY (adjective) – (adverb) __________________________________________________ 4. GREED (noun) – (adjective) __________________________________________________ 5. HARD (adjective) – (adverb) _________________________________________________ 6. HEAVEN (noun) – (adjective) _________________________________________________ 7. HELL (noun) – (adjective) ___________________________________________________ 8. HUNGER (noun/verb) – (adjective) ____________________________________________ 9. IMAGINE (verb) – (noun) ____________________________________________________ 10.KILL (verb) – (noun) _______________________________________________________ 11.MAN (noun) – (abstract noun) ________________________________________________ 12.NEED (noun/verb) – (adjective) _______________________________________________ 13.PEACE (noun) – (adjective) __________________________________________________ 14.POSSESS (verb) – (noun) ___________________________________________________ 15.RELIGION (noun) – (adjective) _______________________________________________ 16.WONDER (noun/verb) – (adjective) ____________________________________________ ____________________________________FOLD___________________________________

Activity 2. Complete the song __________ there’s no _________ It’s _________ if you try No _________ below us Above us only sky _________ all the people Living for today __________ there’s no countries It isn’t _________ to do Nothing to ________ or die for And no ________ too ________ all the people Living life in ________ You may say I’m a ________ But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll us And the world will be as one _______ no ________ I ________ if you can No ________ for ________ or ________ A ________ of ________ ________ all the people Sharing all the world You may say I’m a _________ But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll us And the world will live as one

This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only Activity © Tune into English 2010 – www.tuneintoenglish.com

Worksheet written by Prof. Mena Bianco, Naples



Imagine – John Lennon - Complete



Imagine there’s no heaven It’s easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today Imagine there’s no countries It isn’t hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll us And the world will live as one

This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only Activity © Tune into English 2010 – www.tuneintoenglish.com

Worksheet written by Prof. Mena Bianco, Naples